Inside The Mets

Mets Get Encouraging Update Surrounding A.J. Minter

A.J. Minter is taking an encouraging step in his continued rehab.
Logan VanDine|
Feb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Feb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

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New York Mets

The New York Mets are one step closer to getting an important piece back in their bullpen.

It was first reported by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on Wednesday that left-handed reliever A.J. Minter is expected to throw his first live BP next week. Minter is continuing to rehab after undergoing left lat surgery last year, which cut his first season with the Mets short.

DiComo also reported that Minter is hoping to pitch in at least one Grapefruit League game before spring training comes to an end, but there's no guarantee with the lefty about a month behind other New York relievers.

Minter inked a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets last offseason, which also included an opt-out after the 2025 season. The 32-year-old got off to a great start for the Amazins', logging a 1.64 ERA in 13 appearances, with 14 strikeouts in 11 innings of work. However, the lefty hurler would exit his relief outing against the Washington Nationals on April 26, initially due to soreness in his triceps.

Three days later, the Mets announced that Minter would require season-ending surgery due to a left lat strain and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 1 to undergo the procedure.

Minter's absence in the Mets' bullpen was certainly costly throughout the season, as the ballclub lacked a reliable left-handed reliever out of their bullpen outside of Brooks Raley. Further exacerbating this was that Raley wouldn't be activated off the 60-day IL until the start of the second half due to his own rehab from Tommy John surgery.

While the Mets did acquire fellow lefty reliever Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles during last season's trade deadline, his stint in Flushing was disappointing. He posted a 1-3 record in 25 games for the Mets with a 4.50 ERA, 26 strikeouts and a 1.63 WHIP across 24 innings pitched.

With this encouraging step in Minter's rehab, it lines up for the lefty to potentially make his much-anticipated return to the Mets' bullpen towards the end of April.

As things currently stand in New York's bullpen, the current locks for the Opening Day roster are Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Tobias Myers, Luis Garcia, Huascar Brazobán, and Adbert Alzolay. Other potential options are Craig Kimbrel, Alex Carrillo and Joey Gerber.

Kimbrel inked a minor league deal with the Mets this offseason, while Carrillo and Gerber made brief cameo appearances out of the Amazins' bullpen in 2025.

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Logan VanDine
LOGAN VANDINE

Logan VanDine is a contributing writer for On SI's Mets. Logan is a graduate of Rider University where he majored in Sports Media and minored in Sports Studies. During his time at Rider, Logan worked for Rider's radio station, 107.7 The Bronc as a sports host, producer and broadcaster, and for the school's paper: The Rider News. He began his time with The Rider News as a section writer for sports and was a copy editor for two years followed by being one of the sports editors during his senior year. Logan also placed third in the New Jersey Press Foundation Awards for sports feature writing. Aside from his work at On SI, he is also a writer for FanSided covering the New York Giants and Mets and also covers the Giants for Total Apex Sports. Give him a follow on X: @VandineLogan

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